How to Generate a New Ethereum Address in JavaScript

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Overview

JavaScript has evolved from client-side scripting to a versatile language powering both client and server applications. With its extensive library ecosystem, JavaScript is now instrumental in developing decentralized applications (dApps) on Ethereum. This guide demonstrates how to create an Ethereum address using Ethers.js, a lightweight and beginner-friendly alternative to Web3.js.

Prerequisites

Understanding Ethereum Addresses

An Ethereum address acts as your blockchain identity (e.g., 0x6E0d01A76C3Cf4288372a29124A26D4353EE51BE). It’s paired with a private key, which must remain confidential. Addresses are essential for:

Ethereum Address Generation Process

  1. Private Key Creation: A 64-character hex string (256-bit) is generated.
    Example: 0xf4a2b939592564feb35ab10a8e04f6f2fe0943579fb3c9c33505298978b74893
  2. Public Key Derivation: Using ECDSA, a 128-character public key is derived from the private key.
  3. Hashing: The Keccak-256 algorithm hashes the public key, producing a 64-character string. The last 40 characters (prefixed with 0x) form the Ethereum address.

👉 Explore Ethereum development tools

Why Ethers.js?

Ethers.js offers stability, detailed documentation, and ease of use compared to Web3.js. It’s ideal for beginners and supports seamless Ethereum network connectivity.

Step-by-Step Address Generation

1. Setup

Ensure Node.js is installed:

node --version

Install Ethers.js (v6):

npm install ethers

2. Create address.js

const ethers = require('ethers');
const crypto = require('crypto');

const id = crypto.randomBytes(32).toString('hex');
const privateKey = "0x" + id;
console.log("SAVE BUT DO NOT SHARE THIS:", privateKey);

const wallet = new ethers.Wallet(privateKey);
console.log("Address: " + wallet.address);

3. Run the Script

node address.js

Output:

FAQs

Q1: Is Ethers.js safer than Web3.js?
A: Ethers.js is often preferred for its stability and smaller bundle size, reducing attack vectors.

Q2: Can I reuse an Ethereum address?
A: Yes, but generating a new address for each transaction enhances privacy.

Q3: What if I lose my private key?
A: Recovery is impossible—store it securely offline.

👉 Learn advanced Ethereum integrations

Conclusion

Generating Ethereum addresses in JavaScript is streamlined with Ethers.js. For further learning:

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